The Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute The Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute (JSLI) offers a unique online course of study for the preparation of modern and liberal rabbis based anywhere in the world. You will not need to uproot yourself or your family to study at our rabbinical seminary as we join together virtually in Havruta each week. Our community is thriving and we welcome you to join us! JSLI fosters a warm environment and strives to create an open-minded and liberal community of rabbis dedicated to spreading the joy of Jewish thought and rituals. In our online rabbinical seminary program, we focus on preparing our students to meet the needs of Jewish unaffiliated and interfaith families. Our Program Our rabbinical seminary's curriculum is built around weekly online video conference Havurot. Web based technology allows us to work together with students anywhere in the world. At each session, we join together in prayer (daven), explore the weekly Torah portion (parasha) and discuss relevant Rabbinic commentaries (responsa.) Each month we also focus on Jewish rituals and life-cycles. Our unique backgrounds and skills are the gifts we share as we journey on our path toward the goal of rabbinic ordination. Along the way, we strive to build community and friendships that will last throughout our lifetimes. Why we are Different JSLI is a rabbinical school which trains clergy to minister to and focus on the specific needs of almost 50% of the world's Jewish population- the Jewish unaffiliated and interfaith. Today's liberal Jewish world calls out for a new paradigm in the training of it's clergy. Our spiritual leaders may teach basic Talmud and Torah, lead prayer services, give inspirational sermons, provide pastoral care, officiate at weddings and funerals, chant Torah & Haftara, prepare children and adults for Bar/Bat Mitzvah, blow shofar, start and grow new communities and so much more. At JSLI, your life experience counts. When you meet our requirements and have completed the full cycle of Torah readings together with your class, you may graduate in one year and receive your Semicha. Ordination Weekends We are pleased to announce that our most recent group of JSLI rabbis was ordained at the Duncan Center in Delray Beach, Florida on Jan. 15, 2012 Our first JSLI rabbis were ordained Aug. 27th, 2011 at Common Ground Center in Starksboro, Vermont. |
